An archangel revealing the physical nature of the universe to a group of natural philosophers and mathematicians. Etching by James Barry, 1795, after his painting.

  • Barry, James, 1741-1806.
Date:
1 May 1795
Reference:
11970i
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About this work

Description

Upper register, left to right: Sir Francis Bacon, Copernicus, Galileo (holding telescope), Newton, the archangel, an angel; lower register: Thales (with scroll of geometrical and cosmological diagrams), Descartes (with book), Archimedes, Grosseteste, and Roger Bacon (holding text with title "Opus minus" inscribed in reverse)

Publication/Creation

[London] : J[ames] B[arry], 1 May 1795.

Physical description

1 print : etching and engraving ; platemark 73.2 x 47.6 cm

Lettering

This groupe exhibiting the future enjoyment of reserved knowledge where an arch angel is explaining a solar system to the admiring Newton, Gallileo [sic], Copernicus & Bacon is taken from the picture of the state of final retribution & with the most respectful, affetionate [sic] regard is dedicated to the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce by James Barry R.A. Professor of Painting to the Royal Academy. Paint.d eng.d & publ.d May .1. 1795 by JB.

References note

M. Keynes, The iconography of Sir Isaac Newton to 1800, Woodbridge, Suffolk, 2005, no. LXI-1, p. 64

Reference

Wellcome Collection 11970i.1-.2

Reproduction note

After one of the six paintings of "The progress of civilisation" painted by Barry for the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce (subsequently the Royal Society of Arts), London, from 1777 to 1783

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Where to find it

  • LocationStatusAccess
    Closed stores
    11970i.2
  • Bears pencil inscription on verso, apparently in hand of Henry S. Wellcome, identifying the portrait supposedly of Isaac Newton (but not much like him) as William Penn: in bottom margin, upward pointing arrow and "Wm Penn"; bottom right margin, "Portrait of Wm Penn here in this group"
    LocationStatusAccess
    Closed stores
    11970i.1

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